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Great Britain: Toothache boy nearly died (Another triumph of Socialized medicine)
The Sun (U.K.) ^ | November 16. 2004 | ANDY RUSSELL

Posted on 11/16/2004 11:00:12 PM PST by Stoat

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To: still_learning
This is why we see rules attached to the American nationalized health care proposals to not allow individuals to pay practitioners directly. Was that not a feature of Hillary-care?

100% accurate. Incidentally this is precisely the failed Canadian law. In the UK you have the right to opt out for private care. Both doctors and patients can opt out.

In Canada it is ILLEGAL for individuals to pay practitioners directly. (They can always go to the US for care).

61 posted on 11/17/2004 2:04:36 AM PST by FormerACLUmember (Free Republic is 21st Century Samizdat)
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To: Stoat

Yummm. Roast ferret. Tasty.


62 posted on 11/17/2004 2:11:12 AM PST by Leisler (The New Northern Railroad, help a lefty to Canada.)
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To: Stoat

Or how about less regulation? Why do you need an MD to pull a tooth? If the boy can't get a tooth pulled for 8 days, there is a problem of access to MD's anyway. If a nurse pulled a tooth and it got infected, he wouldn't have been any worse off but if it didn't get infected he would have been spared a lot of trouble, and the state expense for his time in intensive care.


63 posted on 11/17/2004 2:12:12 AM PST by monkeyshine
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To: Leisler
"Yummm. Roast ferret. Tasty."

<<<  moving to other side of room in the event Leisler notices me and my somewhat 'ferrety' appearance

64 posted on 11/17/2004 2:15:16 AM PST by Stoat
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To: monkeyshine
He had a broken tooth, swelling and pain, the pain and swelling indicating a sign of infection. In the US your best bet would be to have a tooth like that pulled by an oral surgeon after and simultaneous treatment with at least a five day course of antibiotics.
65 posted on 11/17/2004 2:21:58 AM PST by bd476 (European leaders: No ETA on their arrival at the nuthouse - they already live there.)
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To: Stoat

And another thing...what's this about chocolate and ice cream being good for your health? Is it your treat? Ghiradelli chocolates for me, if so.


66 posted on 11/17/2004 2:23:38 AM PST by bd476 (European leaders: No ETA on their arrival at the nuthouse - they already live there.)
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To: monkeyshine
"Or how about less regulation? Why do you need an MD to pull a tooth? If the boy can't get a tooth pulled for 8 days, there is a problem of access to MD's anyway. If a nurse pulled a tooth and it got infected, he wouldn't have been any worse off but if it didn't get infected he would have been spared a lot of trouble, and the state expense for his time in intensive care."

I agree that less regulation would have helped this man immeasurably.  He was passed through the system again and again until he nearly died, and the Socialized system is largely responsible for this.

As to your points about other healthcare practitioners doing a Dentist's job, in other situations I would agree although in this case I would suggest that by the time the young man was actually seen he was in dire shape and in need of far more than merely an extraction.

In the USA, we can thank John Edwards and his pals in the Trial Lawyers Association as well as the Democrats who endlessly block meaningful tort reform.  This creates an environment where costs are needlessly high and healthcare practitioners are terrified of doing any procedure that is outside of their specific training and primary job description.

67 posted on 11/17/2004 2:24:39 AM PST by Stoat
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To: Stoat
In the USA, we can thank John Edwards and his pals in the Trial Lawyers Association as well as the Democrats who endlessly block meaningful tort reform. This creates an environment where costs are needlessly high and healthcare practitioners are terrified of doing any procedure that is outside of their specific training and primary job description.

Yes and it is also the reason nobody who is not a licensed dentist would touch this boy's tooth in the USA.

I would also add that the trial lawyers also annihilate non-physician providers. The midwife industry is (for example) now extinct in NY City for this reason.

68 posted on 11/17/2004 2:31:04 AM PST by FormerACLUmember (Free Republic is 21st Century Samizdat)
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To: bd476
"And another thing...what's this about chocolate and ice cream being good for your health? Is it your treat? Ghiradelli chocolates for me, if so."

Although I normally limit my chocolate-giving to persons whom I have verified as being a nice lady (as is the case with Spanaway Lori) you have asked directly and so here you go  :-)

 

Premium Chocolate Masterpieces Collection - Large Assortment

69 posted on 11/17/2004 2:32:27 AM PST by Stoat
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To: FormerACLUmember
"I would also add that the trial lawyers also annihilate non-physician providers. The midwife industry is (for example) now extinct in NY City for this reason."

I'm very sorry to hear this, as midwives provide very important services.  I suppose this will continue as long as people remain silent and until enough people die due to overregulation and excessive litigation.  Unfortunately, most political movers and shakers avail themselves of the most deluxe medical services on the planet and so are largely insulated from the realities that most other folks face.  If a few Senators' wives had to wait six hours in an ER waiting room you can rest assured that these problems would be fixed overnight.

70 posted on 11/17/2004 2:39:59 AM PST by Stoat
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To: Stoat

Socialized medicine is already here, in the form of HMOs. Some are better than others, but they can be very difficult to get in to see someone.

Last year, my company changed dental plans, and the cost of the DMO (like an HMO, but for dentists) was about 1/2 the cost of the PPO dental provider. I didn't read the fine print. Although there were nearly twice as many providers listed, the DMO did NOT pay anything for "out of network" dentists. Well, I broke at tooth and needed to see a dentist, and to my suprise, only one of the dentists listed by the DMO was willing to take on new DMO patients. And even though I had an "emergency," it would be almost 5 months before I could be seen.

About 4 years ago, I needed emergency back surgery. If I had been on a similar HMO plan, I would probably be in a wheel chair today.

Anytime someone says that they'd like to see "government run health care," I refer them to the VA hospital system, a rather shocking example of the way Congress has broken promises to veterans. And then I say, "Imagine the people running the DMV running the emergency room!"

Mark


71 posted on 11/17/2004 2:40:39 AM PST by MarkL (Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. But it rocks absolutely, too!)
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To: KillerMule
This must be what Kerry was planning on putting in place.

This is exactly the sort of thing that Hillary had in mind, except, unlike the British system, she included civil and criminal penalties for going "outside" the system!

Mark

72 posted on 11/17/2004 2:43:22 AM PST by MarkL (Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. But it rocks absolutely, too!)
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To: Stoat
Stoat, your trust serves you and now both of us well. Thank you for the lovely box of chocolates. I can almost taste them from here.

As Spanaway Lori says, Stoat is a great American!"

73 posted on 11/17/2004 2:43:50 AM PST by bd476 (European leaders: No ETA on their arrival at the nuthouse - they already live there.)
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To: Stoat
Unfortunately, most political movers and shakers avail themselves of the most deluxe medical services on the planet and so are largely insulated from the realities that most other folks face. If a few Senators' wives had to wait six hours in an ER waiting room you can rest assured that these problems would be fixed overnight

Congress gives itself life long triple gold star health insurance, PLUS back up unlimited free care at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Walter Reed Army Hospital and the National Institutes of Health hospitals in suburban D.C.

The hypocrite Canadian politicians have similar special access.

74 posted on 11/17/2004 2:43:56 AM PST by FormerACLUmember (Free Republic is 21st Century Samizdat)
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To: GeronL

I know people in Canada who have waited 6 months for an MRI to determine if their symptoms are caused by a brain tumor of MS.

People in England, once diagnosed with a disease like MS, aren't regularly prescribed the meds to slow down the exacerbation rate.

My husband just had a hip replacement, from Dr. visit to surgery was about 6 weeks (and much of the wait involves the time it takes for you to donate your own blood for the upcoming surgery). In Canada, a patient for hip replacement has to wait for up to a year to have the surgery.

Americans who think they want a nationalized health care would be the first to scream when they couldn't get "instant" access to a dr., tests, or surgery.


75 posted on 11/17/2004 2:45:28 AM PST by dawn53
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To: backhoe
In my home town, the ER's are plastered with signs stating treatment must be given, regardless of ablity to pay.

I think that this is based on state laws. In MO, there are similar signs, but if you read them carefully, they say that they will stabilize you and arrange transportation to another hospital.

So, if you've got a gunshot wound, they'll stop the bleeding, and send you off to the university hospital.

Mark

76 posted on 11/17/2004 2:48:21 AM PST by MarkL (Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. But it rocks absolutely, too!)
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To: Stoat

Sorry, guys, its not a shortage of dentists its the absence of "free" dentists that they are moaning about.

I had an acute dental infection treated by my (private) dentist in london a few years ago. I cost about $90.

These people were prepared to let their kid die rather than shell out for a private dentist.

There is no socialised dentistry in the UK any more. I haven't had an NHS dentist for about 20 years (although my pregnant wife and kids get free treatment which strikes me as being fair enough).

There is still a widespread sence of entitlement though


77 posted on 11/17/2004 2:57:20 AM PST by Killing Time
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To: MarkL; backhoe

It is a federal law called EMTALA (acronym for Emergency Medical..something or other).


78 posted on 11/17/2004 2:57:58 AM PST by FormerACLUmember (Free Republic is 21st Century Samizdat)
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To: Killing Time
I had an acute dental infection treated by my (private) dentist in london a few years ago. I cost about $90.

That is a GREAT deal in the UK, a real bargain compared to what I pay.

79 posted on 11/17/2004 2:59:52 AM PST by FormerACLUmember (Free Republic is 21st Century Samizdat)
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To: bd476
"Stoat, your trust serves you and now both of us well. Thank you for the lovely box of chocolates. I can almost taste them from here.

As Spanaway Lori says, Stoat is a great American!"

You're quite welcome, and thank you for your kind words 

((((BLUSHING))))

stoat5F1.gif

MEMO TO ALL:

bd476 is a GREAT AMERICAN!


80 posted on 11/17/2004 3:02:22 AM PST by Stoat
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